It’s not easy to find a VPN to access BBC iPlayer, let alone one that’s free. The BBC iPlayer geo-blocks are extremely tough to bypass, especially if you’re anywhere outside the UK. However, if you are looking for a free provider, I’ve shortlisted a list of the best free VPN for BBC iPlayer that actually work.
TL;DR: Free VPN for BBC iPlayer
- Surfshark is the best free VPN for BBC iPlayer, allows unlimited device connections. Use it risk-free for 30-day days and get access to UK servers, fast speeds and advanced security for online protection.
- Windscribe offers free servers in the UK, free 10GB data per month, unlimited device connections, moderately good speeds, and AES 256-bit encryption.
- Speedify comes with a free UK server, 2BG of free data per month, medium to slow speeds, and AES 128-bit encryption.
To create this list for the best free VPN for BBC iPlayer, I tested many providers, out of which only these 3 performed reliably. However, because free VPNs are usually not fast nor secure in general, I’ve made sure to include a premium VPN with a free trial, and 2 absolutely free providers.
Even though I selected 3 of the best free VPNs to access BBC iPlayer, it goes without saying that they’ll always come with a few downsides.
For instance, limited servers comes with a limit of free data per month, and device limitations. Most free VPNs comes with vulnerabilities, which is why I had to include Surfshark in this list.
It’s not only one of the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer in general, but also is quite budgeted. Best of all, it’s safe, and that should be your main target when accessing a geo-restricted service like BBC iPlayer.
The best free VPN for BBC iPlayer in 2024
As mentioned above, there aren’t free VPNs for BBC iPlayer that work all that well, which is why you’ll find only three that currently make the best choices.
However, of course, they all come with restrictions. You’ll find the details on each of the free VPNs for BBC iPlayer mentioned below:
1. Surfshark – #1 free VPN for BBC iPlayer
If you’re familiar with the VPN industry, then you’ve probably heard of Surfshark. It’s not only one of the best VPNs in general, but also is one of the best for BBC iPlayer.
You can use Surfshark for free with BBC iPlayer, by hacking a free trial in its 30-day money-back guarantee. With that, you’ll have access to 3200+ servers in 65 countries.
This network also includes numerous servers in 3 cities in the United Kingdom. These servers are also optimized to access P2P platforms with great ease.
When I tested the Surfshark app, I found that the security backing and extended features were top-notch! For instance, it falls back on a superior 256-bit AES encryption and offers a Kill Switch feature for its apps.
Other advanced features that will make your experience on BBC iPlayer better, include its NoBorders mode to access the service within countries with high censorship laws. There’s also a GPS spoofing feature, a Camouflage mode, and Split-Tunneling.
Just in case you’d like to access BBC iPlayer on a device that doesn’t support VPN apps, that’s where the SmartDNS feature comes in.
However, you can add this feature over one IP address at a time. Watch BBC iPlayer on your Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, or another device simultaneously, because Surfshark allows unlimited device connections.
Other than the above, there is more that makes Surfshark a great free VPN for BBC iPlayer. It’s why Surfshark is very popular among users.
2. Windscribe – 10GB of free data per month & Unlimited connections!
Now, coming to another renowned provider that offers both a premium and free version of its app. I was a little skeptical at first about using a free VPN for BBC iPlayer, but when I put Windscribe to the test, the results were great!
The free app actually worked with the service. However, there are a few positives and negatives about using the free Windscribe VPN app for BBC iPlayer.
This VPN comes with around 10 free servers to choose from, with the inclusion of two free UK servers. When I connected to the free UK servers, I was actually able to bypass the BBC iPlayer blocks and get access to the service.
Apart from that, the speeds weren’t super impressive, but they weren’t bad either. This means you’ll be able to use the service with ease. However, that’s no issue considering you’ll only have access to SD quality while using a free VPN.
Since this service is a tough cookie to crack, it’s going to need a very strong security backing. Now, we know that most free VPNs don’t have much to offer, but this isn’t the case for Windscribe.
This provider comes with a strict no-logs policy and operates using AES 256-bit encryption. Unlike other free VPNs, Windscribe comes with a Firewall feature that protects users from malware, tracking, and adware.
Now, I understand that you’d like unlimited bandwidth, especially since streaming takes up much more of our time, but Windscribe comes with only 10GB of data per month.
You’ll be able to stream a maximum of 7 movies every month. You could add to your limit of free data per month, by tweeting about this provider which will only give you a 5BG limit free, or 1GB every time you get a new friend to subscribe to the service.
All-in-all, Windscribe does make one of the best free VPN services if compared to numerous other providers that I’ve tested. Know the plus side?
The free Windscribe app allows unlimited device connections! So, even if the servers are limited, speeds are alright, and security is good enough, the main focus is that the free Windscribe VPN unblocked BBC iPlayer.
3. Speedify – Free servers in the UK + 2GB data free per month!
Last on the list for free VPNs for BBC iPlayer, we have Speedify. Just like Windscribe, Speedify too is a freemium VPN. Apart from its paid plans, it offers a free but very limited version of its app. When I ran some tests on the free app, turns out that Speedify unblocked BBC iPlayer, and other services like YouTube, and HBO.
For the free app, offers a minimalistic number of servers but includes servers in the UK. However, unlike Surfshark or Windscribe, the Speedify servers weren’t all that fast. There wasn’t any lagging, but the speeds hampered the overall experience.
To make things worse, the bandwidth limit is only 2GB a month for free. This means that in a month, you’re only allowed to stream 2 or 3 hours’ worth of content. Where its security is concerned, the app only operates using AES 128-GCM encryption, which isn’t as good as AES 256. However, the logging policy is downright reliable and secure.
So, if you’re only looking to watch a specific movie for a couple of hours, and don’t want to pay a buck for VPN services, provided the speeds are slow, Speedify should make a perfect fit.
The Free VPN hack to watch BBC iPlayer
Remember when I mentioned a thing or two about hacking your way into using a premium VPN as a free provider? Well, just in case you’re not too sure about using a completely free VPN, then this hack is for you. The tutorial works on all the best BBC iPlayer VPNs.
Surfshark isn’t quite an absolutely free VPN but that doesn’t mean you have to pay to use the service.
Now, we know that Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You should know that there’s a way to use the service through their refund policy, only if you’re looking to stream on BBC iPlayer for a month.
Here’s what you can do:
- Subscribe to Surfshark VPN, and choose the most affordable deal for you.
- Create your account by signing up for the service.
- Download and install the VPN app on a supported device.
- Launch the VPN app, and sign in to your account.
- Now, since you’re trying to access BBC iPlayer, connect to any of the servers in the UK.
- Clear your cookies and cache.
- Either download and sign up for the BBC iPlayer service through the app, or head directly to the website.
- Create your account and start streaming!
- Now, use the service for free but make sure you contact the VPN agents, asking them for a full refund and account cancelation.
- All you have to do is wait for the refund to settle in, and that’s all!
You can now use a premium VPN to watch BBC iPlayer for free, even if it is just for a month. Stream shows like Man Like Mobeen, The War of the Worlds, and the critically acclaimed An Irish Goodbye on BBC iPlayer in the USA or any other country. So start streaming today.
FAQs
How do I watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN?
The steps to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN are quite easy. Even though BBC iPlayer is a tough platform to get access to, nothing will be too difficult if you’re connected to the best VPN for it.
All you need to do is download the app on a supported device, keeping in mind that most free VPN only allow a one-device connection. Install the VPN app, and connect to any of the servers in the UK. That’s all. You’ll be able to launch the BBC iPlayer app or use the website smoothly.
Keep in mind that in every case, there are situations where even a premium VPN encounters a few issues when trying to stream on BBC iPlayer. If this arises, make sure you clear your cookies and cache from the browser and connect to a new UK server.
How to choose a free VPN for BBC iPlayer
This here is a tough one. Usually, when we look for the best VPN to use with BBC iPlayer, we often look for a large network coverage with UK servers. We also look for fast speeds, unlimited data, a high multi-device allowance, and a tight security backing. In the case of a free VPN, the process is somewhat similar.
However, we know that free VPN services are always a lot more restricted in performance and features, so choosing one for BBC iPlayer is a lot more difficult.
When I chose these top 3 free providers for BBC iPlayer, I made sure that each VPN offered servers in the UK. Also checked for decent speeds, compatibility with at-least 3 or more devices. And if they came with ample enough security and a no-logs policy which other free services fail to provide. Through that, I ran a few tests to see how each provider performed, so that you can watch BBC iPlayer with a decent experience.
Can we use the same free VPN to access BBC iPlayer and other streaming services?
Yes, but that highly depends if the free VPN you picked to access BBC iPlayer offers servers other than the UK one. For instance, to access Netflix, HBO, or Disney Plus, you’re going to need a US server to connect to.
However, the performance of a free VPN on multiple streaming services always various from user-to-user. It depends on what country you live in, how secure or fast your internet connection is, and how strong the geo-blocks are.
Is it legal to access BBC iPlayer with a VPN?
Technically speaking, using a VPN isn’t illegal, especially since you’re mainly using the software from outside the UK. Yes, BBC iPlayer is accustomed to copyright and geo-restricted laws, so it’s wise to use the service with great caution.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?
If you’re looking for a premium provider other than free VPNs for BBC iPlayer, then here are the top 5 providers. With them, you can watch BBC iPlayer in Australia, Canada, or any country outside the UK. They are:
To conclude
All the free VPNs to access BBC iPlayer mentioned on my list might not give you many options to choose from. However, this is all that works. It’s not very easy to find a reliable or secure free VPN. Only a few free VPNs work with simpler platforms let alone for a big dog like BBC iPlayer.
However, if you’re just looking for a simple or limited time on BBC iPlayer, then the 3 best VPNs mentioned in this free VPN for BBC iPlayer list will do just the trick!
From the list above, Surfshark seems to be the best or only reasonable choice, given that this VPN offers many affordable and low-cost choices. With it, you’ll also be able to access more than one streaming service apart from just BBC iPlayer.
However, if a free VPN isn’t quite what you had in mind, and would like to look for more affordable VPN options, you can always check out our VPN deals page.
